Improved mode of sinking wells



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

IMPROVED MODE OF SlNKlNG WELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,614, dated October24, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON MUDGE, ot Oortlandville, in the county ofCortland, in the State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedMode of Sinking or Constructing Wells, by which a supply of water may bereadily obtained for family use or for an army on the march or in camp.

The modes for sinking wells heretofore in use are, rst, digging andwalling up, as is generally practiced in sinking wells for family orfarm use; second, boring and drilling, in-

sinking Artesian wells, salt-walls, and oil-wells, both of which modesmake it necessary to remove the dirt by taking it out at the surface ot'the ground as the work progresses.

My invention consists in driving a pointed rod of iron or steelperpendicularly into the ground till it has penetrated from four to sixfeet into the water under ground, withdrawing the rod, and inserting apipe ofnearly the same size in its place, which completes the well. Bythis process there is no dirt removed or brought to the surface. Byattaching any of the pumps now in use to the top ot' the pipea copioussupply of water may be drawn from wells sun k in this manner; and, asfar as I have experimented, they prove inexhaustible. With one man tohelp I have sunk a well by this process to thedepth of twen ty feet intwo hours time. loenable others to use my invention, I will proceed todescribe my process or mode of sinking wells in connection with thetools adapted thereto; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a view of a small pile-driver, with the iron or steel rodshown at A in position to be driven. AtB is shown the driver, whichshould weigh about one hundred pounds. The driver is operated in theusual way or by means of the windlass and cord shown at O. The pointediron or steel rod A, Fig. 1, I make two inches (more or less) indiameter, and to provide for dit'erent'depths I make it in sections, asshown in Fig. 2, the connection being made by screwing the uppersection, D, into the thimbleE,or by any means equivalent thereto.

Fig. 3 is a view of a clamp-ring used for drawing the rod from theground, and is operated by any strong leverinserted in thelink Gr.

Fig. 4 is a view of the pipe to be put down atter driving andwithdrawing the ro'l. llhe pipe should be about two inches in diameterand made of some strong metal. Ordinary gas-pipeis, perhaps, mostpreferable. A plug (shown at H) is inserted in the lower end ot' thepipe to prevent its getting choked with gravel, and is made pointed forthe purpose of guiding the pipe as it is forced down toits place in thewell. The small openings, of any shape most convenient to make, shown atA, near the bottoni ot' the pipe, are i'or the admission ot' water intothe pipe when pnt into the well.

My process for sinking a well is, first, driving the rod A to therequired depth by means ot the pile-driver, Fig. l., or by a heavysledge Where the soil orearth is not too compact; second, withdrawingthe rod by means ofthe clamp, Fig. 3, or by any means that will ctt'ectthe object; third, the rod being Withdrawn, inserting the pipe in itsplace, driving it down, it' necessary.

Where the earth or soil is light and free from stone the pipe may ot'tenbe driven to a sut'- cient depth for awell without drivingtherod.

Any ofthe ordinary pumps now in use may be attached to the pipe after itis in place by cutting a thread on the top ot' the pipe and screwing onthe pump, or by any means that will effectually exclude the air.

Drilling and boring wells I do not claim as my inventiomas these modesof operation have been longknown; nor do I claim the pipe alone asherein described, as that has been used in the device patented to JamesSuggett, March 29, 1864, but I Y What I do claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The process or mode ot' constructingor sinking wells where no rock is tobe drilled, viz: driving a rod down to and into the water under ground,withdrawing it, and inserting a pipe in its place, substantially asherein described.

BYRON MUDGE.

Witnesses:

REED PECK, EBENEZER MUDGE.

